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School praised for teaching children suffering from cerebral palsy
A SHEFFIELD school has been given official recognition for its good work teaching children with cerebral palsy.
The Paces School in High Green uses a technique called conductive education and is set to expand to take in 30 pupils.
Ministers have finally granted Paces official status as a special school, but it will keep its independent status having been founded by a group of parents 12 years ago.
It will bring in extra funding and will allow governors to expand the number of children taken in, who are aged from two to 18.
The occasion was marked by a visit from Shadow Minister for Sheffield Baroness Sayeeda Warsi.
She said: "Securing this status will not only assist financially but, equally importantly, will I am sure change for the better the relationship with Sheffield education authority and the other authorities that place pupils at Paces.
"It is no small achievement to know Paces joins a very small group of just over 70 schools who have achieved this recognition."
Also joining the visit was Spencer Pitfield, Parliamentary candidate for Penistone and Stocksbridge, who said the news had significance for conductive education nationally as Paces was the first such school to receive recognition.
"It will be leading the way for others to follow. It is truly wonderful to have such a centre of excellence here in north Sheffield," he said.
Sheffield Lord Mayor Coun Jane Bird also hosted a reception for staff and pupils from Paces to celebrate their achievement.
And there was praise too for members of the High Green Development Trust which manages the campus. They have been granted a lease by the council which opens the door to huge improvements for the building, creating new facilities for local families and groups in the wider local community.
Trust manager Jackie Hall said: "The community and people who use the building should see real benefits from this deal.
"The Paces School received their new status due to this new security. We now know we are going to be here for the long term and this will get us extra investment."
The Paces campus, based in a former comprehensive school, is home to 13 community groups as well as the school, including a nursery, an after school club, wellbeing and healthy living projects, a computer recycling project and an art gallery.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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